COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A number of the life-saving devices have been stolen over recent weeks



Ambulance bosses have branded the thefts of life-saving defibrillators in Nuneaton, Bulkington and Hinckley as 'unbelievable'. In fact they questioned the thieves' motives and asked how they would feel if one of their loved ones needed the lifesaving devices and found that it had been stolen.

CoventryLive contacted West Midlands Ambulance Service following what has been described as a 'disturbing' trend in the thefts of the devices. A West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) spokesman said: “It is unbelievable that someone can think it is acceptable to steal a life-saving device.

"How would they feel if their loved one needed a defibrillator, only to find it wasn’t there when someone went to get it because it had been stolen? We would urge anyone with any information to pass it on to the police at the earliest opportunity.”

As reported in our newsletter, thieves used crowbars to steal one of the life-saving devices from the wall outside the Co-op in School Lane, Bulkington. There have also been reports that one has been taken from outside the Co-op in Camp Hill and another two were reportedly taken in Burbage and Croft Hill, Leicestershire.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Neighbourhood Watch members have urged anyone with any information about the thefts to contact the police. They have also appealed to anyone who has seen them for sale - or who has been offered one - to also tell Warwickshire Police.

Anyone who has any information or sees a defibrillator being offered for sale should contact Warwickshire Police on 101. Details can also be passed on to officers via the independent charity Crimestoppers. This service is free to call from a landline and confidential on 0800 555 111 or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Co-op confirms removal of every defibrillator outside stores in Coventry and Warwickshire

Every defibrillator outside Heart of England Co-op stores across Coventry and Warwickshire have been removed following a spate of thefts. The company has confirmed that there will no longer be access to what are potentially life-saving devices outside of trading hours.

This follows what has been described by Nuneaton and Bedworth Neighbourhood Watch volunteers as a 'disturbing' trend in the thefts of the devices.

As we reported in our newsletter, thieves used crowbars to steal one of the life-saving devices from the wall outside the Co-op in School Lane, Bulkington. There have also been reports that one has been taken from outside the Co-op in Camp Hill and another two were reportedly taken in Burbage and Croft Hill, Leicestershire.

As a result, the Heart of England Co-operative Society has taken the drastic action to remove the devices from outside all of its stores. It means that the community will only have access to them during opening hours.

The Co-op says it is a situation they 'regret' and a spokesman for the society said they are working to come up with a solution.

"We regret to inform our members and customers that we have been forced to remove our defibrillators from our stores and branches out of trading hours," the spokesman said. "This follows the theft of several devices, and associated damage of their protective casings, in the past couple of weeks.

"We are working to find a solution to keep the devices safe and accessible to members of the public during our trading hours, however out of trading hours they will not be available. We will keep our customers updated."

Family 'disgusted' by Warwickshire defibrillator thefts



The family of a girl who died from an undiagnosed heart condition have said they are "disgusted" by a spate of defibrillator thefts.

Tracey Ward from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, lost her niece Ella Bury in 2014 from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).

Earlier this month, defibrillators were taken from outside Co-op stores in Bulkington and Camp Hill, Warwickshire

Mrs Ward said the thefts had made her feel sick.

In 2016, Ella's mother Karen Bury and Mrs Ward began fundraising for defibrillators and in six years had generated enough for 19 devices to be placed around Warwickshire for public use in the event of emergencies.

Mrs Ward said if a defibrillator had been on hand at the time of Ella's death "it maybe could have saved her life".

The spate of thefts around Warwickshire and in neighbouring Leicestershire prompted some Co-op stores to lock away their defibrillators at night.

Mrs Ward said she was worried that locking away devices meant they could end up in a cupboard and become forgotten.

"What if someone drops down at night and the ambulance is too late?

"I would rather try something than do nothing at all."

She added one defibrillator for which the family raised funds at Ambleside Sports Club had saved a man's life.

'Disheartened' Nuneaton laments another defibrillator theft



A community has been left "disheartened and disappointed" after eight defibrillators for public use were stolen in a month.

In the latest theft to emerge, a device was taken from Horeston Grange Church in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The item had been funded by community projects and charitable donations.

Devices have also been stolen in recent weeks from Co-op stores in Nuneaton and Bulkington, Warwickshire, plus Burbage and Croft Hill in Leicestershire.

The church defibrillator is believed to have been snatched between 25 March and 30 March.

First responder Samantha Hall, who played a key role in having it installed, was among those to express frustration.

She told the BBC: "I'm disheartened and disappointed. A lot of people worked hard to raise this money to get this here. It's an ideal location for a defibrillator but now it's [gone]."

The Co-op defibrillators have since been replaced by the chain and stored inside the shops, meaning they are now unavailable to the public beyond trading hours.

The original devices had been funded by donations collected by Kate Williams and her husband Paul after a mural at their home, in homage to England's Euro 2020 squad, attracted thousands of visitors.

Mrs Williams said: "The generosity was phenomenal and was the best of Nuneaton, now we've seen the absolute worst of Nuneaton unfortunately from one or two individuals. It is mindless and just doesn't make sense. It makes us really, really sad."

Insp Dave Williams, from Warwickshire Police, branded the thefts "disgraceful", saying: "The offenders have put their own greed before the lives of others.

"We completely understand the anger and concern in the community resulting from these callous thefts."

Police condemn 'despicable' thieves after life-saving defibrillator stolen from Coventry church



Police have condemned 'despicable' criminals after life-saving defibrillators were snatched from St Thomas' Church in Keresley. The crime is the latest in a spate of defib thefts in Coventry and Warwickshire that have left communties outraged.

Heather Hudson, PCC Secretary at St Thomas' Church, has been left furious at the theft - more so because the defibrillator was paid for after fundraising by local Girl Guides. Even worse, it is the second church to be targeted after another was taken from the cabinet outside Horeston Grange Church in Nuneaton.

Heather said locals were extremely 'distressed and outraged' over the thefts. In addition, they have been left confused over what the thieves do with the stolen units.

Ms Hudson told CoventryLive : "At our regular monthly check on Saturday (April 9), we discovered that our defibrillator, situated on the Church Hall in Wickham Close, had been stolen. We are very disappointed as this was bought with community fundraising led by our Girl Guides.

"It was installed in 2020 and is on an outside wall next to the road. We shared this information on our Facebook page and received many comments from local people who were equally distressed and outraged that such a theft should have happened, and are wondering what on earth the thieves then do with the stolen units."

Heather said the church hopes to replace the life-saving device and has already received an offer of fundraising help from a local business. Yet she believes the theft is a 'huge disappointment' as 'thieves steal these units without regard to the potential cost to lives which might have been saved.'

She added: "It is our intention to ensure we replace the unit in due course and a local business has already made an offer of help for fundraising. Yet it is a huge disappointment that all the previous work achieved by our Guides and others has been lost because of the thieves who steal these units without regard to the potential cost to lives which might have been saved."

Coventry Police Superintendent Ronan Tyrer has slammed the thieves and branded the thefts 'truly despicable.' He added it is 'beyond words' that people would steal equipment that 'could be the difference between life and death.'

Superintendent Tyrer said: "To steal a piece of life-saving equipment is truly despicable. Defibrillators could be the difference between life and death in a medical emergency and it's beyond words that someone has taken this.

"If anyone has any information about who's responsible then please get in touch so we can take action. Please message us on Live Chat through our website and quote crime ref 20/369638/22."